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Yay the Ray-Way!

Inspired by Ray Jardine, my best friend and tramping partner Matt introduced me to the Ray-Way.

To me Ray-Way means lightweight tramping, aiming for a pack weight (including all equipment and gear) as low as possible. Food is not counted in pack weight, only the dead weight of essentials. For a 25 day off-track traverse of Fiordland, my pack (without food but including fuel) weighed 8 kg. Even this is too heavy!

All of my Ray-Way equipment is homemade on (borrowed) sewing machines, using fabric purchased from Ray-Way or from Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics in the USA. It is impossible to source many of the fabrics needed in New Zealand (except cordura used for my pack). It is also impossible to buy commercial versions of this equipment, and if it is possible, hugely expensive.

Of course, sewing is an enormous and time consuming chore and drives me insane, but the end product is worth it.

In the past I have always tramped with traditional New Zealand tramping gear. I have a 2.5kg, $400 MacPac Torre pack, a $200 MSR cooker, $500 Italian Kayland boots, $300 Macpac bivvy bag, etc etc. I now use none of these, and dont ever plan to use them again (unless mountaineering).

All of the following I have made myself from homemade or RayWay patterns:
– Lightweight $40 pack
– 600g fly and net-tent
– Nylon shell suit – the most versatile piece of clothing you can have!
– An experimental thermal skin (wetsuit) vest for wet weather
– Synthetic sleeping bag
– Synthetic jacket, vest and bomber hat
– Beer can meths stove with potstand and windsheild
– Goretex raincoat

Hi. I got cordura from Harald’s fabric shop in Christchurch. Haven’t checked there for a while. Also bought via net from Outdoor Wilderness Fabric, and Ray Jardine (rayway), both USA. I need more now for new backpacks.